Police in Dublin search a halting site in the Darndale area of Dublin on Thursday as part of an investigation into the feud between the Real IRA and criminal gangs.
Photo by: Brenda Fitzsimons c/o The Irish Times

Police in Dublin search a halting site in the Darndale area of Dublin on Thursday as part of an investigation into the feud between the Real IRA and criminal gangs.
Photo by: Brenda Fitzsimons c/o The Irish Times

Police in Dublin completed a search and arrest operation as part of their ongoing investigation into the gangland killing of Real IRA boss Alan Ryan on Thursday.

Ryan was shot dead in broad daylight at on September 3 at an apartment complex in Clongriffin.

The Irish Times reports police arrested a man at a traveler halting site in Darndale, in north Dublin after firearms, ammunition, live pipe bombs and pipe bomb components were discovered during a search on Thursday morning.

The man in his late twenties is been questioned and held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Coolock Garda station. He is well known to police for his involvement in drug dealing and the real IRA.

It is understood the suspect had teamed up with the Real IRA and used this connection to intimidate other drug dealers in the north of the City.

Around 80 uniformed police conducted an extensive search of the caravans, outhouses, and vehicles on Thursday morning. Undergrowth as well as a religious grotto were also searched for concealed items.

Investigators from Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda dog and mounted units took part in the large scale search.

The bomb squad were called in to examine the two of live pipe bombs that were found on the site.

“The devices were made safe in situ without the need for a controlled explosion and then removed to a secure military location for further examination," a spokesman for the Defence Forces said.